- As a teacher, you are obliged to stand up for democracy and the equal value of all people.

If I expose myself to a risk when I do so, then it is completely unacceptable that we do not have greater protection today, says Åsa Fahlen, chairman of the Swedish Teachers' Association.

According to Åsa Fahlén, a stronger legal protection for teachers would send a significant "signal" about the importance of the school's responsibility to, among other things, teach about freedom of expression.

The National Union of Teachers therefore demands that the government now urgently investigate protection for school staff, similar to the protection that has existed since the turn of the year for so-called blue light staff.

- If you attack a teacher when he is practicing his profession, it should be a more serious crime than if you attack someone else, says Åsa Fahlén.

Nor does Johanna Jaara Åstrand, chairman of the Swedish Teachers' Association, believe that society provides the support that teachers need to stand up for human freedoms and rights.

She also calls for increased protection for her members.

- It should never be accepted that teachers are exposed to threats and violence in their work, she says.

Far from enough

But, according to Johanna Jaara Åstrand, increased legal protection is far from enough for teachers to feel safe and free to teach about, among other things, freedom of expression.

It is also about reducing the teachers' administrative burden in order to give more time for better preparation and time to build relationships with their students, which in turn creates security.

- We should not give in to difficult questions.

But to cope with that, there must be a context where we build trust, where you create security, she says. 

No new government proposals at present

Minister of Education Anna Ekström has previously told SVT that the government is currently not planning any new political proposals to strengthen the protection of teachers, but refers to the national plan on security and study peace in the school that will be presented sometime next year.

But, according to investigator Katarina Håkansson, the investigation concentrates mainly on how to improve the students 'situation, not the teachers'.

- The main focus is the students' security and study peace, she says.